| Transducer array geometry may be one of the most important factors affecting acoustic emission/microseismic (AE/MS) source location accuracy. This thesis presents a fundamental consideration of the role of transducer array geometry in AE/MS source location.;The thesis first addresses the mechanism of array geometry in the control of source location accuracy which provides an insight into why the array geometry has a significant affect on source location accuracy. Following this, two basic effects, geometrical spreading and direction control, are investigated. This provides a global view on how the array geometry affects source location accuracy.;Based upon the fundamental concepts developed, the typical effects of 2-dimensional arrays are first compared and analyzed. But the most important result is that a method has been found to objectively control source location. This should mark the beginning of the design of 3-dimensional AE/MS transducer arrays.;A number of other basic problems are also considered in this thesis. These include the discussion of the relationship of the optimization of transducer array geometry and the least-squares-technique, the comparison of the effects of the velocity error and the arrival time error, the development and verification of a simulation procedure, and the proof of the condition necessary to determine a unique source location. Source location data from two recent AE/MS field studies are incorporated into this research. |
